A relatively large proportion of our population manifests valvular abnormalities. A smaller, but substantial, portion has hemodynamically important valvular disease that can be expected to progress to heart failure or, occasionally, to sudden death. Our longitudinal study of inpatient records obtained from New York State's Department of Health identified almost two million cases of clinically-recognized valvular disease between 1983 and 2007. While total hospitalizations in the State declined, linear increases were observed in the number of patients hospitalized with valvular diseases and in the number of valve replacements or repairs, which paralleled advancing age at discharge. We conclude that valvular diseases represent a sizable public health burden that likely will grow as the population increases and ages.
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